UPCOMING AREA EVENTSToday. Thibodaux resident Jason Matherne will embark on a 126.2-mile solo ultra marathon on Feb. 8 in raising money for the March of Dimes. The mission of the March of Dimes is to help mothers have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies. Matherne, 38, hopes to finish the race (called Rouge-Orleans), which begins in Baton Rouge and ends in New Orleans and follows the Mississippi River levee system, in 28-30 hours, only stopping at designated aid stations along the way. Matherne is in the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Deputy reserve unit. To pledge a rate per mile donation or a lump sum, contact Matherne at 985-859-7613 or Kristen Pitre at 985-665-1470 or check out his Facebook page.

Today. The Louisiana Baseball Academy is hosting winter pitching workouts until Friday The workouts will be held at the LBA Indoor Facility, which is located at 3007 West Park Avenue in Gray. The workouts, which will help strengthen and develop skills in young pitchers, will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the first sessions lasting from 5-7 p.m. and the late sessions from 7-9 p.m. The cost is $300 for the 18-day workout, which is less than $17 per two-hour session. Space is limited, and LBA is accepting on 16 players per session. For information, contact lessons@lbabaseball.com or visit the website at www.lbabaseball.com.

Feb. 8. The annual E.D. White Catholic Cardinal alumni prayer breakfast will be held from 7 to 8 a.m. Feb. 8 at the Envie banquet room in Thibodaux. The cost is $12 per person and Nicholls State head baseball coach Seth Thibodeaux will be the guest speaker. Those interested are asked to respond with payment to the E.D. White Alumni Association at 555 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux La,, 70301, by Feb. 1.

Feb. 9. The Nicholls State baseball team will kick off the 2013 season with its annual Alumni Game and First Pitch Banquet on Feb. 9 with the morning festivities taking place at Ray E. Didier Field in Thibodaux before moving to Cypress Columns in Gray for the banquet with featured guest speaker Skip Bertman later that evening. Tickets for the banquet are $60 for the general public and $30 for baseball alumni. Patrons will get to meet and greet the 2013 players and coaches, as well as bid on a variety of auction items with all proceeds going to the Nicholls baseball team. Food and drinks will be provided and the event is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Current and former Nicholls baseball players will come together at Didier Field that morning to take part in two exhibition games, the first beginning at 10 a.m. with the Old Timers game. After that, the 2013 Colonels will take on the Colonel Alumni team beginning approximately at noon. A fee of $25 dollars will go toward paying for jerseys, hats, food and drinks for the day, and can be paid with a a check payable to the Nicholls Foundation/Baseball. For information, call the Nicholls baseball offices at (985) 449-7149.

March 23. The 21st Annual Eric T. Andolsek Memorial Bass Tournament will be held on March 23 at Bob's Bayou Black Marina in Gibson. The tournament is presented by the Golden Tigers Club and the Eric Andolsek Chairtable Fund. For information, call Reggie at 225-265-7766, Andy at 447-3826 or Ruffin at 447-7042.